Established in 2009 Under the Authority of North Carolina General Statute 15A-404

Two of North Carolina’s largest police departments are using a question-and-answer protocol to determine the danger level of domestic-violence victims and get them help more quickly than in the past.

Raleigh and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are using the Lethality Assessment Program, which is used in 32 states. The immediate goal is to make victims aware of their danger so they seek various kinds of help, including counseling and seeking refuge in a shelter.

An officer just has to get an affirmative response to one of the first three of 11 questions to trigger a referral to a domestic violence help group.